Cambridgeshire Fire Service states high hopes for upcoming vape ban

Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) is hopeful a ban on single use vapes can lead to more of them being disposed of correctly.

From next Sunday, it will become illegal to sell or supply these types of vapes in person and online - also known as disposable vapes - after the ban was announced last year.

The government move, which applies across the UK, aims to tackle waste and the impact vapes have on the environment.

Figures from Material Focus show 8.2 million vapes a week are either thrown away or recycled incorrectly, while last year, there was a 37% increase in the number of vapes bought compared to 2023.

"I think it (the ban) will be taken pretty well," Station Commander Gareth Boyd, from CFRS, said.

"We've seen a lot of our staff are disposing vapes in recycling bins we provide; we are seeing an uptake in them being disposed of correctly and we'd like to see that continue."

According to the government, disposable vapes are usually thrown away in general waste bins or littered rather than being recycled.

Vapes contain lithium-ion batteries, which have raised concerns over their fire risk when overcharged.

In April, CFRS said six fires in homes across the county were caused by charging batteries, and last year 20 fires of this type were attended to.

"That's (the ban) going to make it better for the environment and make it safer for us in the fact of we may not get those fires we've seen before, that potentially could've been on careless disposal of batteries or vapes," Mr Boyd said.

"I think a lot of people aren't aware of where they can take it to and you've got some people who throw things in the bin because they're passing it, so it's an education from our point of view to make sure people dispose of them correctly."

Ways to stay safe

People across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough are being advised to remember some key tips to stay safe when charging batteries:

• Always use the battery and charger that comes with your vape

• Never leave a vape or e-cigarette charging unattended

• Avoid mixing parts from different vape or e-cigarette models

• Only purchase devices, batteries, and chargers from reputable retailers

• Ensure your vape or e-cigarette is CE certified.

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